Department for Transport

Ferries: Isles of Scilly

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progressthey have made in considering the Strategic Outline Business Case submitted by the Isles of Scilly Transport Board to the Department for Transport for improved services and investment in new craft; andwhat plans they have toplace an early order for such craft for the Isles of Scilly with the Appledore Shipyard.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government’s focus during the current pandemic has been on ensuring that the transport providers which serve the Isles of Scilly stay operational throughout the Covid-19 outbreak and continue to provide vital services. In April 2020, Government provided up to £10.5 million for lifeline ferry and freight service operators to the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly and continues to work closely with the operators, local stakeholders and other Departments to provide clarity over support for autumn, winter and beyond. We are aware that the Isles of Scilly Transport Board are working on proposals to improve transport services. We look forward to discussing these proposals with the Isles of Scilly Transport Board in due course. The procurement of any new craft would be subject to competitive tender in accordance with the applicable rules.

Transport for the North: Powers

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to theWritten Answer byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 31 July (HL7214), what powers are held by Transport for the North, beyond offering advice to the Secretary of State.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Regulations which established Transport for the North as a statutory transport body in 2018 require them to provide advice to the Secretary of State about the exercise of transport functions in its area. In addition, they are required to prepare a transport strategy, may co-ordinate transport activity across the area and make further proposals to the Secretary of State on their role and functions. Transport for the North delivered its Strategic Transport Plan for the North in February 2019. They have provided advice to the Secretary of State on a range of transport matters, including the Roads Investment Strategy, Major Route Network priorities and the Transpennine Route Upgrade.

Hegelmann Group

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reportsthat Hegelmann Transporte's activities in the UK have broken the law; and what steps they (1) have taken, and (2) plan to take, to address any such breaches of the law.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has no record of any offences committed by Hegelmann Transporte Activities in the last three years. Where the DVSA receives reports of any breaches of the law it will assess, prioritise and undertake the necessary and appropriate enforcement action.

Crossrail Line

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are (1) thedates of, and (2) the reasons for, each announced stage of delay in the completion of the Elizabeth Line; and what has been the additional cost of each delay.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Crossrail Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London. In August 2018, Crossrail Limited (CRL) announced a delay to the opening of the Elizabeth line which was originally due to open in December 2018, stating that services would launch in autumn 2019. CRL stated that the reasons for this delay was due to more time being needed by contractors to complete fit-out activity in the central tunnels and the development of railway systems software, and that testing had started but further time was required to complete the full range of integrated tests. In April 2019, CRL announced their revised schedule which identified a six-month window for delivery of the central section, with a midpoint at the end of 2020. CRL stated that the reasons for this delay was due to the complexity of the remaining work and the level of risk and uncertainty remaining in the development and testing of the train and signalling systems. In November 2019, CRL announced that the Elizabeth line would open “as soon as practically possible in 2021” stating that further time was needed to complete software development for the signalling and train systems and the safety approvals process for the railway. In January 2020, CRL announced that it planned to open the central section of the railway in summer 2021 and the full Elizabeth line by mid-2022, citing challenges with completing the software development and the safety assurance processes preventing it from meeting its previously planned opening window. In August 2020, CRL announced that the central section between Paddington and Abbey Wood would not be ready to open until the first half of 2022 and that following the opening of the central section, full services across the Elizabeth line from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east will be introduced. CRL stated that the schedule delay was due to lower than planned productivity in the final completion and handover of the shafts and portals, revisions to the schedule assumptions for the completion of the new stations and the impacts of Covid-19 had placed significant constraints on ongoing work and productivity due to the reduced numbers that can work on site to meet strict social distancing requirements. In December 2018, the Government approved a £2.15bn funding package whereby the Department for Transport would provide a loan of £1.3bn to the Greater London Authority (GLA) and a loan of £750m to Transport for London (TfL) to finance the remaining costs of the project. The GLA also provided a £100m cash contribution. In August 2020, CRL announced that the cost to complete the Crossrail project could be up to £1.1bn above the funding package agreed in December 2018.

Transport: Isles of Scilly

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the suspension of most transport services to, from, and within, the Isles of Scilly during the COVID-19 pandemicandthe subsequent partial reintroduction of services, what action they are takingto ensure the survival of such services and the Islands’ economy into the autumn and beyond the winter period; and whether any such action will be (1) financially commensurate with their plans to keep the railways and bus services operational, and (2) in accordance withtheir policies of enabling the restoration of the Islands’ economy.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: In April 2020, the Government announced emergency funding of up to £10.5 million for lifeline ferry and freight service operators to the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly. This bespoke package of support was in addition to the £330bn package of financial support the Government provided to all sectors to support them through the pandemic. This support has allowed the transport providers which serve the Isles of Scilly to stay operational throughout the Covid-19 outbreak and continue to provide vital services. More recently, it has also helped to facilitate the return of tourists to the islands which has helped to kickstart the local economy. Nevertheless, the Government recognises the significant impact Covid-19 will continue to have on the economy of the Isles of Scilly. That is why support for the Isles operators continues to be in place, subject to need. And we are working closely with the operators, local stakeholders and other Departments to provide clarity over support for autumn, winter and beyond.

Electric Scooters: Safety

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, when considering the use of e-scooters, they plan to look at the experience of other countries where wider use has been permitted; and what plans they have to review the safety implications for other road users, in particular disabled people.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department is considering the evidence available from international organisations, published reports and the experience of other Governments and city authorities in regulating e-scooters. We are running trials of e-scooters to gather evidence of their impacts on our roads and the plans for trials were developed taking account of the experiences abroad. We are establishing a monitoring and evaluation programme for the trials that will assess the safety implications of e-scooters. ?This will?assess?the safety risks presented by e-scooters, the mode shift?to e-scooters from other forms of transport,?public perceptions around their use?and identify other impacts that should be considered for any?potential?future legalisation of e-scooters. Research with the local community will specifically seek to include vulnerable groups (including disabled people) to ensure that their views and experiences are understood.

Northern Trains: Crew

Lord Stunell: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken since becoming operator of last resort of the Northern Rail franchise to increase the number of route-qualified drivers to enable a full timetable of passenger services to be delivered.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Northern Trains Ltd (NTL) had been rolling out a major driver training programme for its new trains prior to the Covid -19 lockdown, however in line with the rest of the rail industry, driver training was suspended due to the epidemic. The operator is trialling a process to ensure the safety of the driver and a trainer in a cab, and is using technology to support training outside of the cab including use of Virtual Reality simulations. NTL has also been working with health advisors to enable those previously classed as shielded or vulnerable to return to work where appropriate and it has put together a driver recruitment plan.

Roads: Accidents

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, how many (1) road accidents, (2) injuries, and (3) fatalities,of (a) pedestrians, (b) cyclists, and (c) vehicle occupants, were attributed to vehicle drivers using their mobile telephones in the last year for which figures are available.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: There were 423 reported accidents in 2018 where a police officer allocated the contributory factor ‘driver using mobile phone’ to at least one of the drivers/riders involved in the accident. The numbers of fatalities and injuries of road users involved in these accidents are shown in the attached table. Detailed final statistics on reported personal injury road accidents in Great Britain for 2019 will be published on 30 September 2020. The latest annual published statistics are for 2018.Table of no. of fatalities & injuries - road users (docx, 19.9KB)

Roads: Construction

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatplans they have to review their process ofassessing (1) the carbon emissions, and (2) the economic benefits, resulting from new roadbuilding schemes; and what consideration they have given to assessing those impacts against the same criteria.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Her Majesty’s Government employs a relevant, robust and trusted analytical process designed to assess the likely impacts of both individual strategic road schemes and our road investment strategy as a whole. The impacts of such schemes on, for example, carbon, employment, housing, air quality and environmental issues are all assessed by the Department in line with its Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG). The Department keeps its appraisal and modelling methodologies which are set out in TAG, under constant review, commissioning research to improve the evidence base as well as improving methodologies. The recently published TAG route map sets out our plans to update our guidance over the next six months and includes plans to update carbon values once these are finalised by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Transport

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the future transport needs along the north-east/south-west axis in England in relation to future air, rail and road infrastructure and inter-city and regional services, and(2) the contribution this axiscould make to levelling up economies within England.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: This Government is committed to ensuring that transport and infrastructure investment levels up economies across the country. The Government considers a wide range of options for transport infrastructure and services across all parts of England and will set out its plans for investment at the forthcoming spending review and in the National Infrastructure Strategy. These will build on planned investments in this particular corridor, such as the improvements to the A46 ‘Trans-Midlands Trade Corridor’ recently set out in the second Roads Investment Strategy.

Commuters: Greater London

Lord Grocott: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 3 August (HL7358), whether they will now answer the question put, namely, what are the (1) absolute numbers, and (2) proportions of commuters, travelling into by London by (a) rail including London Underground, (b) bus, (c) car, (d) bicycle, and (e) motor cycle.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The 2018 ONS Labour Force Survey found that of those who worked in London, and reported a usual method of travel to work (a) 46% travelled by rail, (b) 12% by bus, (c) 27% by car, (d) 5% by bicycle and (e) 1% by motorcycle, the remaining 10% by other methods. Based on this, an estimated (a) 1,790,000 people travelled by rail, (b) 471,000 by bus, (c) 1,066,000 by car, (d) 178,000 by bicycle and (e) 39,000 by motorcycle and 380,000 by other methods. These estimates are based on those in the survey with a work place in London and reporting a usual method of travel to work and as such may not cover all work-related travel activity into London. The department will publish the 2019 modal analysis using the 2019 ONS Labour Force Survey in due course.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Climate Change Convention

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to submit an upgraded nationally determined contributions plan for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference by the deadline at the end of the year; and whatsteps they are taking as chair of that conference to encourage other nations to meet that deadline.

Lord Callanan: As part of our incoming COP Presidency, in partnership with Italy, we are urging all countries to come forward with new NDCs representing their highest possible ambition as soon as possible – and noting the expectation in the Paris Agreement that NDCs are submitted in 2020. The UK will play its part and we are preparing to come forward with an enhanced NDC well ahead of COP26. It is our priority in doing so to contribute to the greatest possible momentum and ambition ahead of COP26.

Sharing Economy: Conditions of Employment

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking togiveworkers in the gig economyemployment benefits and protection.

Lord Callanan: As announced in the Queens’ Speech, we will be bringing forward an Employment Bill to implement a range of Manifesto commitments. This legislation will make workplaces fairer, by encouraging flexible working and introducing new protections for those in low-paid work and the gig economy. It will balance the needs of both employers and workers and will ensure we have an employment framework that is fit for purpose in the 21st century.

OneWeb: Satellites

Lord Bowness: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many satellites OneWeb currently has in operation; how many it will launch next year; and whether those satellites will be launched by the Russian Federation Space Agency, Roscosmos.

Lord Callanan: OneWeb currently has 74 spacecraft in orbit. The launch manifest and the chosen launch capabilities are commercial matters for the company.

Department for Education

Special Schools: Coronavirus

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to provide special schools with updated COVID-19 guidance.

Baroness Berridge: On 2 July, the department published guidance for the full opening of special schools, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings/guidance-for-full-opening-special-schools-and-other-specialist-settings.It provides information on specific approaches and flexibilities that special schools, special post-16 institutions and other specialist settings should take, depending on their individual circumstances, as they support children and young people with education, health and care plans make a full return to their specialist setting from September.This guidance was updated earlier this week and provides a number of updates including additional detail on the use of face coverings in settings, the framework for supporting transport to and from settings, health and safety duties and wraparound provision and extra-curricular activity.We have also published guidance for safe working which outlines what safety measures need to be implemented to protect staff and students, including in special schools and residential special schools. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings-including-the-use-of-personal-protective-equipment-ppe#what-care-should-be-taken-in-residential-settings-including-residential-schools-residential-special-schools-and-childrens-care-homes.We know that home to school transport is vital for many children and young people to access education, especially for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). On 11 August, we updated our guidance for transport to school and other places of education in the 2020 autumn term, to support local authorities in providing this. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transport-to-school-and-other-places-of-education-autumn-term-2020/transport-to-school-and-other-places-of-education-autumn-term-2020#part-b-guidance-for-dedicated-transport-to-schools-and-other-places-of-education-for-autumn-term-2020.All of the guidance is continuously being reviewed as evidence continues to emerge and circumstances change. We will provide updates if and when they are necessary.My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, has also written to children and young people with SEND, along with their families, carers and those who support them, about the return to school. The letter is available here: https://twitter.com/vickyford/status/1301215913790898179.This letter outlined the support on offer to help them on their return, such as the Whole School SEND (WSS) handbook, which supports educational professionals to successfully re-engage pupils with learning after a period of disruption. The WWS handbook, along with additional resources, is available on the SEND Gateway here: https://www.sendgateway.org.uk/whole-school-send/find-wss-resources/.

Higher Education: Coronavirus

Lord Bassam of Brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advicethey have providedto universities and higher education providers about steps to take in relation to students attending from areas where local lockdowns are in place.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to assist with additional track and trace facilities at universities (1) located in areas, and (2) with students arriving from, areas under local lockdown.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have provided to universities located in areas under local lockdown areasabout (1) teaching plans, and (2) measures to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have made available relating tothe management of student shared accommodation in areas (1) where there is a high prevalence of COVID-19, and (2) in local lockdown.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The safety and wellbeing of university staff and students is always our priority, and we are confident that universities are well prepared for the return of students, having taken measures to reduce the risk of transmission such as introducing social distancing on campus, limiting travel requirement for classes, and staggering teaching across extended days to reduce numbers on site. To help providers make informed decisions, the government has issued guidance on reopening campuses and buildings, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reopening-buildings-and-campuses/higher-education-reopening-buildings-and-campuses.We support face-to-face teaching only where possible and if safety guidelines are followed but expect providers to reopen with a blend of online teaching and in-person tuition as they consider appropriate in line with public health advice. Providers are required to carry out risk assessments, modelled on a range of scenarios including where students are mixing across settings, and develop appropriate mitigations in response.We are about to publish updated guidance on reopening higher education institutions – including face coverings, local lockdowns, and test and trace – based on the most up-to-date advice from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Everyone should be following basic guidance on COVID-19, including social distancing and maintaining good hand and respiratory hygiene.We have also released guidance for landlords and tenants on renting and the COVID-19 outbreak. This sets out necessary public health measures to protect the health of students living together and those staff assisting them. We expect universities and other higher education providers to prioritise the health and safety of their staff and students and put in place measures that apply to their individual circumstances. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities.

Higher Education

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with representatives of the higher education sector in (1) Northern Ireland, (2) Wales, (3) England, and (4) Scotland.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: The Department for Education is in regular contact with representatives of the higher education system throughout the United Kingdom and has weekly interactions with Universities UK and the Office for Students (OfS).We have also recently established a Higher Education Taskforce, which is looking at the admissions processes following recent changes to exam results. This taskforce includes representatives from UCAS, the OfS and a wide range of university groups. Following these changes, my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, has also had bilateral calls with the Vice Chancellors of many universities in England.The Department has also had regular contact with its counterparts – both at ministerial and official level – in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland throughout the summer.Officials from the department have weekly calls with colleagues from the devolved administrations on a number of policy areas, including on the COVID-19 response and higher education admissions.At a ministerial level, there are both bilateral discussions on a regular basis and quadrilateral meetings between my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, and her counterparts in the home nations.These are all supplemented with ad hoc discussions on emerging policy. To give an example, there were discussions regarding the recent results day and subsequent move to centre-assessed grades in England, which also led to the removal of student number controls, an area of interest to each of the devolved administrations.We are also working directly with representatives of the higher education sector throughout the UK. An example of this is a recent conversation my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, had with the Vice Chancellors of Queens University, Belfast, the University of Edinburgh and Cardiff University.

Schools: Playing Fields

Lord Lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many school playing fields have been sold in each year since 2010; and what steps they will take to reduce the number of applications for further sales being given consent by the Secretary of State for Education.

Baroness Berridge: The department records and publishes details of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education’s consents for schools to dispose of areas of publicly funded playing field land. Disposals may take the form of freehold sales, long and short-term leases and grant of rights regarding access and use of land. The definition of “playing field land”, as set out in the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998 (SSFA 1998), is “land in the open air which is provided for the purposes of physical education or recreation”. This is a wide definition and it does not matter if the land is not currently in use for sport or recreation or is not laid out for formal team games. Disposals of any size require consent so the listed transactions do not necessarily represent the loss of whole pitches, courts or playgrounds. YearNumber of Secretary of State consents given to disposal of areas of playing field land2001 – Apr 2010242May 2010 – Dec 201011201192012112013372014232015222016252017492018122019112020 (up to July)13Undated12 Under existing legislation, no-one may dispose of publicly funded playing field land without reference to the Secretary of State. The current departmental advice to local authorities, maintained schools, special schools, academies and free schools regarding disposal or change of use of playing field and school land (May 2015) clearly states that “all maintained schools and academies must provide suitable outdoor space to enable physical education in accordance with the school curriculum and to enable pupils to play outside” and that “there is a very strong policy presumption against the disposal of school playing field land”. Further disposals that meet specific criteria can be made under a General Consent Order (GCO). Details can be found in Annexes E to H of the department’s current guidance: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/430705/Disposal_or_change_of_use_of_playing_field_and_school_land.pdf.In summary, GCOs can be used for transactions that represent no net loss of playing field land to the school estate or where the loss is temporary. Disposals made under a general consent order are not published by the department and are not included in the figures above. Examination of the decisions where the Secretary of State has given consent for the disposal of playing field land demonstrate that the majority of cases fall into two categories: 1) the disposal of land at closed school sites where these closures may be the result of school relocation, school merger or lack of demand for school places due to demographic changes. The Secretary of State will seek evidence that the site is no longer needed for the purpose of running a school, that pupils previously attending the closed school have access to equivalent or better sport and recreational facilities and that proceeds from the sale contribute to betterment of sporting and recreation facilities across the wider school estate; and 2) the disposal which results in the betterment of recreational and sports facilities at the school site e.g. where sports clubs or community groups fund investment in enhanced facilities, protect their investment by taking a lease from the school (which is a disposal of playing field land) and the facilities are subject to joint use agreements allowing the school to use the facilities during school operating hours and other users outside these hours. There are a minority of instances where a disposal of playing field is required with little or no betterment in sporting or recreational facilities e.g. a boundary rectification; compulsory purchase; provision of sub stations or other utilities. In these instances, the Secretary of State requires applicants to demonstrate a benefit and that any loss has been minimised both in quantum and quality of the land disposed of. The government therefore does not have any plans to change its policy position. The department does have plans to refresh the published guidance with respect to the application process which with reiterate the presumption against a loss.

Young Men's Christian Association: Coronavirus

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they have made to discuss with the YMCA the findings of its report Back on Track: Supporting young people out of lockdown, published in August; and what action they are proposing as a result of any such discussions.

Baroness Berridge: Every child and young person in the country has experienced unprecedented disruption to their lives as a result of COVID-19. Supporting young people during this time is our upmost priority.My noble Friend, the Minister for Civil Society, Baroness Barran, has received the report with thanks and noted its findings. Officials at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport have contacted the YMCA and plan to meet with them to discuss the results in more detail.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons: Coronavirus

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government what provisions have been made in Her Majesty’s Prisons for visiting rights for prisoners since the introduction of restrictions to address the COVID-19 pandemic; how many (1) visits, and (2) visitors, are permitted for each category of prisoner each week; andwhat special protective measures have been introduced for (1) visitors, and (2) prisoners, to ensure their protection againstCOVID-19.

Lord Keen of Elie: We fully recognise the importance of family contact for those in custody in line with the recommendations of Lord Farmer’s Reviews. This is why following the necessary suspension of prison visits in March, to keep prisoners, their families and staff safe during the pandemic, we introduced a range of measures. We rolled-out more than 1,200 secure mobile PIN phone handsets which are being used to contact family and friends, bolstered support for the Prisoner’s Families Helpline and introduced secure video calls which are currently operating in over 100 prisons across England and Wales, including all female and youth establishments.We published arrangements for the recommencement of face-to-face social visits in the National Framework for Prison Regimes and Services, and visits recommenced in early July, in an adapted, Covid-secure manner. Currently most prisons have now commenced physical visits.Currently, up to two adults and two children are permitted to visit for a minimum of 45 minutes in prisons where it is safe to do so. Guidance on visits protocols for each prison, including steps we are taking to keep visitors safe, is published on GOV.UK at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visit-someone-in-prison-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemicThis sets out differences in the adult and youth estates but otherwise this applies for visits to all categories of prisoner. We aim to continue to expand visit arrangements as part of further relaxations to prison regimes, as it is safe to do so, and in line with public health advice.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Overseas Aid

Baroness Goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the proposed £2.9 billion reduction in the official development assistance budget.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: All steps possible were taken to minimise the impact of the reduction in development assistance, including where appropriate and practical, delaying payments to future years.The careful review process made sure there is continued support for five ODA priorities; bottom billion poverty reduction, climate change, girls' education, Covid-19 and Britain as a force for good.

Gaza: Coronavirus

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they haveto increase the provision medical and other aid to Gazafor COVID-19 prevention during the latestceasefire.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government remains deeply concerned by the situation in Gaza. Our recent £840,000 funding contribution has enabled the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF to purchase and co-ordinate the delivery of medical equipment, treat critical care patients, train frontline public health personnel and scale up laboratory testing capacity. The Foreign Secretary also recently announced a further £2.7m of funding to UN agencies to provide food assistance, medical supplies and personal protection for the most vulnerable Palestinians. We welcome the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and continue to monitor the situation closely.

Developing Countries: Coronavirus

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide state supportand aid to less economically developed countries to suppress the transmission of COVID-19.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are using UK aid to ensure that our assistance reaches the most marginalised and vulnerable people who will be the worst affected by COVID-19. The UK has so far pledged up to £774 million of aid to counter the health, humanitarian and economic risks.This includes £306 million for supporting health systems and resilience in vulnerable countries, including: £55 million for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement appeals to provide medical supplies, equipment and facilities; £50 million in partnership with Unilever to promote hand and surface hygiene, reaching up to 1 billion vulnerable people; and £20 million to UNICEF to support governments, including provision of water and sanitation for vulnerable children.We are also working to ensure access to new vaccines, treatments and diagnostics (VTDs) as quickly as possible, including in the world's poorest countries. The Prime Minister was clear that world leaders have a 'moral duty' to ensure that VTDs are truly available to all. We are doing this through our work with international partners including up to £250 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and our initial contribution of £48 million to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance's, COVAX Advanced Market Commitment.

Bahrain: Capital Punishment

Lord Judd: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they will make to the government of Bahrain aboutpolitical prisoners at risk of execution, including the cases of (1) Mohamed Ramadan, (2) Husain Moosa, (3) Maher al-Khabbaz, (4) Salman Salman, (5) Hussein Ebrahim, (6) Mohammad Hassan, (7) Sayed Al-Abar, (8) Hussein Mohamed, (9) Hussein Marzooq, (10) Moosa Jafaar, (11) Zuhair Ibrahim, and (12) Husain Rashid.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are following these cases, all of whom have been convicted of the murder of police officers, civilians or both, and will continue to make the Government of Bahrain aware that the UK is firmly opposed to the death penalty, in all circumstances. I reiterated our long standing opposition to the death penalty in my meeting with the Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs on 7 September.

Belarus: Elections

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the fairness of recent elections in Belarus.

Baroness Sugg: The Foreign Secretary has been clear that the UK does not accept the results of the fraudulent Presidential elections in Belarus of 9th August. The UK is calling for a thorough independent investigation by the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) into the conduct of the elections and the violent crackdown that followed. The Government supports the call for constructive political dialogue between the regime in Belarus and opposition leaders to find a way forward that is supported by the Belarusian people.

Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Lord Bowness: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with other Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) participating states about the participatingstates’ failure to reach agreement on the extension or renewal of the mandates of theOSCE Secretary General and of the heads of the OSCE's other executive structures.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is engaging with participating states from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) including Albania as its Chair-in-Office, to support the application process in securing successors for the four top jobs in OSCE. The UK is working with states to identify suitable candidates who share our core values on elections, democratic institutions, rule of law, and freedom of media. The process requires the consensus of all 57 states by 3 December when a final decision will be made at the Foreign Minister's Council.

USA: Counter-terrorism

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government, what discussions they have had with the government of the United States to find a way forward onagreeing a draft resolution aimed at advancing measures to prosecute, rehabilitate and reintegrate foreign terrorist fighters.

Baroness Sugg: We regret the recent UN Security Council resolution on Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration was not adopted. We are working closely with international partners to reduce the risk posed to us collectively by foreign fighters. The US and UK remain committed to working together to seek to address the issues posed by foreign fighters and Daesh affiliates.

Nigeria: Terrorism

Baroness Stroud: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the government of Nigeria’s capacity to (1) investigate, and (2) prosecute, (a) war crimes, (b) crimes against humanity, and (c) other human rights abuses, committed by Boko Haram and other Islamist militia.

Baroness Sugg: The Nigerian authorities have a responsibility to investigate and prosecute all war crimes, crimes against humanity and other human rights abuses committed on their territory.An International Criminal Court (ICC) preliminary examination into the situation in Nigeria commenced in 2010, and focussed on alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity including by Boko Haram in the North East. The ICC Prosecutor acknowledged that steps have been taken by the Nigerian authorities to investigate these offences but requested further information and evidence demonstrating that relevant national proceedings are being conducted or are intended to be conducted.The UK Government will continue to push for allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other human rights abuses to be investigated by the Nigerian authorities, and for those responsible to be held to account. Suspects should have access to justice and cases should be carried out in accordance with Nigerian law and international human rights standards.The UK Government remains committed to supporting Nigeria and its neighbours in the fight against terrorist groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa.

Nigeria: Terrorism

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of reports that militants from the Islamic State's West Africa Province abducted residents from Kukawa, Borno State, who had only recently returned home from refugee camps after local government officials claimed their town was safe; and what representations they have made to the government of Nigeria about the recent escalation of Islamist attacks in Nigeria’s northern and central-belt states.

Baroness Sugg: We are concerned by reports that civilians from the town of Kukawa, Borno State, North East Nigeria were abducted by Islamic State West Africa after recently returning to the town from internally displaced persons' camps. The High Commission in Abuja has raised our concerns with the Governor of Borno State. We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities the importance of ensuring that returns take place in accordance with international guidelines, and have urged the UN and Borno State Government to re-convene the returns task force so the taskforce can advise on whether locations are safe for returns.The UK Government condemns all abductions by terrorist groups in Nigeria, including Islamic State West Africa. We are providing a comprehensive package of security, recovery and stabilisation assistance to help Nigeria tackle the terrorist threat and provide humanitarian assistance to meet the lifesaving needs of vulnerable communities.The UK Government also condemns all incidents of intercommunal violence that occur across many states in Nigeria, including some Northern and Middle Belt states. A wide range of perpetrators are responsible for these incidents, including individuals and groups from various backgrounds and a range of faiths. Intercommunal violence affects both Christian and Muslim communities; we do not assess religion to be the principal driver of most incidents. The underlying drivers of conflict are more complex and frequently relate to competition over resources and criminality. The Minister for Africa discussed intercommunal violence with the President's Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari on 29 June.We will continue to make clear to the Nigerian authorities at the highest levels the importance of protecting civilians, including ethnic and religious minorities, and human rights for all Nigerians.

Nigeria: Boko Haram

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whetherthe aim set out in the 2018 UK-Nigeria security and defence partnership that Nigeria would “cut the number of new recruits joining Boko Haram by tackling the lies and false information spread by the group to attract new members – including by working with communities to push out counter-narratives and drawing on the UK’s experience of countering terrorist propaganda at home and as part of the global campaign against Daesh” has been achieved.

Baroness Sugg: The UK remains committed to helping Nigeria tackle the terrorist threat posed by groups including Boko Haram and Daesh-affiliated Islamic State West Africa. Working with the Nigerian Government, we aim to cut the number of new recruits joining the groups and tackle the misinformation they spread.The UK is a leading member of the Global Coalition against Daesh, co-leading the Coalition's strategic communications alongside the UAE and USA. Partners share information, enhance border security, strengthen legal regimes, adopt strategies to counter violent extremism and break up plots by known Daesh facilitators. We also host the Global Coalition's Counter Daesh Communications Cell at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Cooperation among member countries has been significant. However, Daesh remains a global threat, including in Nigeria. We will continue to work closely with Nigeria to address the threat.

Nigeria: Education

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the commitment given by the government of Nigeria in the 2018 UK-Nigeria security and defence partnership to deliver a £13 million programme to educate 100,000 children living in that country’s conflict zone has been met.

Baroness Sugg: Since 2017, UK support to education in emergencies in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states has created access to formal and non-formal education for over 200,000 children, with an evidenced 90% retention in school (prior to Covid-19 related closures).

Nigeria: Terrorism

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to assist law-enforcement mechanisms and courts in Nigeria with capacity-building to ensure that they investigate and prosecute perpetrators of Islamist attacks effectively.

Baroness Sugg: In North East Nigeria, terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, have caused immense suffering to local communities. These groups seek to undermine the right to freedom of religion or belief, by indiscriminately attacking those of all faiths who do not subscribe to their extremist views.The UK Government has supported Nigerian efforts to improve security, for example through the provision of technical assistance and capacity building to the Adamawa, Yobe and Borno State Police Forces, which emphasised the importance of fair, transparent, and respectful treatment of civilians. Local police forces play an important role in responding to the terror threat.We have made clear to the Nigerian authorities the importance of ensuring those responsible for terrorist incidents are held to account. It is important for the stabilisation of the North East that victims and those affected by the conflict see that justice has been done. We have also made clear the importance of ensuring suspects have access to justice, and that cases are carried out in accordance with Nigerian law and international human rights standards.

Zimbabwe: Pensions

Lord Goodlad: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Zimbabwe about pension arrears owed to former Crown servants; and what was the outcome of those discussions.

Baroness Sugg: While we have received repeated assurances from the Zimbabwean Government that they will resume payment of pensions when the economic situation allows, we remain concerned. The Zimbabwean Government is facing an array of challenges economically. Regrettably, we therefore do not see these pensions being paid in the near future. We will, however, continue to raise the matter with the Government of Zimbabwe and the UK's Ambassador to Harare will press to discuss the issue with the Minister of Finance as soon as possible.

Nigeria: Military Aid

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the UK-Nigeria security and defence partnership signed in August 2018 has achieved its objectives.

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the 2018 UK-Nigeria security and defence partnership in addressing (1) insecurity, (2) violence, and (3) extremism, in Nigeria.

Baroness Sugg: The UK and Nigerian Governments signed the Security and Defence Partnership in August 2018 with the objective of working together to tackle regional and global threats including terrorism, conflict and intercommunal violence, human trafficking, serious organised crime, cybercrime and piracy. To achieve this, we agreed to deepen our collaboration in a range of areas, including through capacity building for the Nigerian Police and Armed Forces; funding and operational support to the Multi-National Joint Taskforce; and funding for Nigerian-led stabilisation work in North East Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin: the region affected by extremist terrorist groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa. Additionally, we agreed to support psychosocial activities and community reintegration efforts as part of Operation Safe Corridor, a Nigerian-run demobilisation, de-radicalisation and rehabilitation (DDR) programme for repentant, low-level members and associates of these groups.We assess that progress has been made in many areas. For example, UK military personnel trained over 11,500 Nigerian military personnel on topics including human rights compliance, rules of engagement, countering-IEDs and first aid in 2019/20. Many of those trained have been deployed on operations to tackle the terrorist threat in North East Nigeria. Furthermore, in July 2020, 601 men completed the DDR programme and are awaiting community reintegration. This is in addition to 280 males who have already completed the programme and returned to their communities.However, insecurity, violence and extremism in Nigeria remain a serious concern. We will continue to work closely with Nigeria to address these issues.

Belarus: Politics and Government

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current political situation in Belarus.

Baroness Sugg: The Foreign Secretary has been clear that the UK does not accept the results of the fraudulent Presidential elections in Belarus of 9th August. The UK is calling for a thorough independent investigation by the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) into the conduct of the elections and the violent crackdown that followed. The Government supports the call for constructive political dialogue between the regime in Belarus and opposition leaders to find a way forward that is supported by the Belarusian people. The Government is concerned by the continued reports of intimidation, harassment and arrest of opposition figures in Belarus, which only undermines the prospects for dialogue.

Belarus: Sanctions

Baroness Scott of Needham Market: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to imposing sanctions against the government of Belarus and associated individuals.

Baroness Sugg: The Government has been clear that we do not accept the results of the fraudulent Presidential elections in Belarus. We have strongly condemned the shocking scenes of violence by the authorities in Belarus towards peaceful protestors. The Belarusian authorities must be held to account. We support the imposition of sanctions and are working with international partners to sanction those responsible for the flaws that rendered the election unfair and the scenes of violence and reports of mistreatment.

Turkey: Curfews

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations theyhave made to the government of Turkey about (1) the curfews in the Sur neighbourhood of Diyarbakir City and imposed on 19 villages in Bitlis Province,and (2)reports ofunlawful killingsin north Istanbul and near Mardin.

Baroness Sugg: We are aware that curfews have been put in place across Diyarbakir province as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, whereas those in Bitlis province are security-related. We follow the security situation?in?Turkey closely, especially in the south-east. We regularly emphasise to the Turkish Government the need to respect human rights, and to support the rule of law in any security operations. We will continue to engage the Turkish Government on these issues and be clear in our expectation that Turkey live up to its human rights obligations, which is essential to the long-term health of Turkish democracy.

Cyprus: USA

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions the government of the United States had with them prior to the announcement that that government’s arms embargo for Cyprus will be partially lifted; and what assessment they have made of the implications of any such change for their role under the Treaty of Guarantee.

Baroness Sugg: On 1 September, the United States State Department announced it would officially lift the U.S. arms export restriction of non-lethal defence equipment to the Republic of Cyprus for a year. The decision was part of the United States' FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019. The decision of the United States to lift the arms export restriction of non-lethal defence equipment to the Republic of Cyprus was a decision taken by the government of the United States in consultation with the Republic of Cyprus. The UK's principal responsibility under the Treaty of Guarantee is to recognise and guarantee the independence, territorial integrity and security of the Republic of Cyprus. The decision by the Government of the United States does not affect the UK's responsibility as a guarantor power.

Ministry of Defence

European Fighter Aircraft: Radar

Lord German: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Advanced Electronically Scanned Array Radar units will be provided for use by the Royal Air Force's Eurofighter Typhoons as a result of the contract with Leonardo and BAE systems.

Baroness Goldie: The contract with Leonardo and BAE Systems is the latest critical step in the development of a European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2 for the RAF's Typhoon fleet.The intent is to install ECRS Mk2 on all 40 of the RAF's Tranche 3 Typhoon aircraft and a small number of Ministry of Defence and industry test assets.

Cabinet Office

Overseas Trade: South Africa

Lord Risby: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the level of (1) imports, and (2) exports, between the UK and South Africa in each of the last five years.

Lord Risby: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the level of (1) imports, and (2) exports, between the UK and India in each of the last five years.

Lord True: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.Dear Lord Risby,As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking about imports and exports between the UK and South Africa, and the UK and India, in each of the last five years (HL7881; HL7882).The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data on goods and services exports for the UK with South Africa and India[1], which can be found in table 1 below. Please note that data are in current prices and, as such, include the effect of inflation. We do not have total trade data, split by country, on a volume basis (with the effect of inflation removed) at present.Table 1: UK total trade (goods and services) with South Africa and India, in £ million, non-seasonally adjusted 201420152016201720182019South AfricaExports485345584686457044874758Imports334438964161419250366270IndiaExports787269095771663092267958Imports11225955510076120521265416171Source: ONSYours sincerely,Professor Sir Ian Diamond [1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/internationaltrade/datasets/uktotaltradeallcountriesnonseasonallyadjusted

Emigration: Australasia

Lord Pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of UK citizens who have emigrated to reside in (1) Australia, and (2) New Zealand, in each of the last three years.

Lord True: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.Dear Lord Pendry,As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the number of UK citizens who have emigrated to reside in (1) Australia, and (2) New Zealand, in each of the last three years (HL7697).The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes statistics based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS), giving estimates of the numbers of people emigrating from the UK and detailing the country of next residence[i]. Table 1 shows the number of people the ONS estimates emigrated to Australia and New Zealand in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the most recent years for which data is available. Estimates for 2019 are due to be published in November 2020.Table 1: UK Citizens emigrating to Australia and New Zealand in thousandsYearAustraliaNew Zealand PersonsConfidence IntervalPersonsConfidence Interval201817.25.36.12.7201719.45.04.71.8201624.94.93.81.5Source: ONS IPS Table 4.01, Citizenship group by sex, age and country of last or next residence Yours sincerely,Professor Sir Ian Diamond [i]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/internationalmigration/datasets/ipscitizenshipgroupbysexbyagebycountryoflastornextresidence

Department for International Trade

Board of Trade: Tony Abbott

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what agreement they have reached with Tony Abbott in relation to expenses, including (1) travel, (2) accommodation, and (3) support, in connection with his role at the Board of Trade.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: All Board of Trade appointments are voluntary, unpaid roles. In line with departmental policy, the Department for International Trade will reimburse all reasonable expenses (including travel, subsistence and other expenses) properly and necessarily incurred in respect of Board of Trade appointments. All travel and hotel bookings are signed off by department officials in line with departmental policy. Attendance at Board of Trade meetings may also be via online platforms.

Trade Agreements: Environment Protection

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with UK trade partners about maintaining environmental protection standards in trade agreements.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: In line with our international obligations, HM Government will continue to ensure a high level of protection of the environment in new trade agreements. HM Government shares the public’s high regard for Britain’s environmental protections and has made clear that we will not compromise on these. While the detail of free trade agreements (FTAs) are reserved for formal negotiations, HM Government has publicly committed to protecting Britain’s world-leading environmental standards in our outline approaches to FTAs with the US, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.

Trade Agreements: Mauritius

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in negotiating a deal on future trade relations with the government of Mauritius.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: The United Kingdom concluded negotiations and signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) states in January 2019. Mauritius is a member of ESA and one of the signatory states. This agreement will provide preferential trading arrangements for both the United Kingdom and Mauritius once it has entered into force.

Arms Trade: Standards

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they taketo ensure that all arms and equipment licensed for export from the UK meet the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: As the Noble Lady will recall from my answer to her question of 15th June, all export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria (the ‘Consolidated Criteria’). In reaching a decision, my Department receives advice from a number of Departments including the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Together, we draw on all available information, including reports from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and our diplomatic missions. The Consolidated Criteria provides a thorough risk assessment framework and requires us to think hard about the impact of exporting any equipment. These are not decisions my Department takes lightly, and we will not license the export of items where to do so would be inconsistent with the Consolidated Criteria.

Expert Trade Advisory Groups: Membership

Lord Foster of Bath: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel on 4 August (HL7349), who attended the most recent meetings of each of the 17 Expert Trade Advisory Groups (ETAGs) listed; whether the communication of the outcome of the review of the ETAGs will include the publication of (1) their membership during the meetings listed, and (2) their new membership, if different; and when that review is expected to conclude.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: The attendance information that the Department holds for the most recent meetings in July and August is detailed in the attached table. On 25th August, nine sectoral Expert Trade Advisory Groups (ETAGs) were stood down. 11 Trade Advisory Groups, which are sector-focused, have been created. Their membership can be found online (see here). The following advisory groups will continue to exist: Continuity; Customs; Financial Services; Intellectual Property; Procurement; Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises; Sustainability; and Trade for Development. The review of how these groups operate is ongoing and will conclude in due course, together with a decision on whether membership will be published. There is no plan to publish historic membership.ETAGs (doc, 44.5KB)

Trade Agreements: Human Rights

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had withUKtrade partners about inserting clauses on human rights in future trade deals.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: The United Kingdom has a strong history of promoting our values globally, safeguarding human rights and responsibilities. Our strong economic relationships with trading partners allow HM Government to have open discussions on a range of difficult issues.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Sportsgrounds: Coronavirus

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken to enable sports stadiums to reopen safely in England.

Baroness Barran: The Government continues to liaise closely with the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) and sporting bodies whilst developing its guidance to support the safe return of spectators to stadia more widely no earlier than October 1st. As announced by the Prime Minister, this remains subject to review. Pilot events will now be capped at 1,000 people.

Football: Equality

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Football Association about increasing diversity among (1) grassroots, and (2) professional, football referees.

Baroness Barran: We are in regular dialogue with the Football Association (FA) across a range of matters, including diversity. I welcomed the FA’s announcement of a new voluntary code for Equality in Football Leadership, which aims to champion equality in football and tackle all forms of discrimination in the game.The Government is committed to working with sports to ensure opportunities to progress are open to all, from athletes to administrators, to board members. As an example of this, on 13 July 2020 Sport England and UK Sport announced a joint review of the Code for Sports Governance. The Code sets out the levels of transparency, accountability and financial integrity required from those who ask for government and National Lottery funding. It currently says that organisations must show a "strong and public commitment" to progressing ethnic diversity. However, it is right to review this to ensure that opportunities to progress are open to all. Government will be working with UK Sport and Sport England to set new expectations and ensure the sport sector leads by example.It is also important that referees feel safe and supported. That is why I was pleased to see the football authorities commit to improving reporting systems and providing better training and support for referees and stewards last year - including improved CCTV.